Reinforced concrete structure.



PATENTED SEPT. 10, 1907.

H. F. COBB.

REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURE.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 18 1907.

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HERBERT F. COBB, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 10, 1907.

Application filed February 18,1907. Serial No. 357.799.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT F. COBB, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Reinforced Concrete Structures,of which the following is a specification, the principle of theinvention being herein explained, and the best mode in which I havecontemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguishit from otherinventions.

My invention relates to structures of concrete, and particularly to theconstruction of concrete roofs, floors, stairways, sidewalks, and thelike.

The object of the invention is the provision for use in combination withthe cement filling entering into such construction of an improved typeof combined centering and reinforcement.

To this end said invention consists of means hereinafter fully describedand particularly pointed out in the claims. f

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detailcertain constructions embodying the invention, such'disclosedconstructions, however, being illustrative of only a few of the variousforms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing: Figure 1 represents in perspective a section ofa flat roof, floor, or the like, embodying one form of my improvedcentering and reinforcement; Fig. 2 is a similar view in perspective ofan arched floor or roof construction, showing the same form of centeringin use in this connection; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view, taken end on, ofa section of a concrete structure in which is incorporated the form ofcentering shown in the two preceding figures; and Fig. 4 is a viewsimilar to that of Fig. 3, but showing a slightly modified form of thecentering.

The most common of the methods at present prevailing in the erection ofconcrete structures of the kind first enumerated involves putting acontinuous wooden platform, called centering, across the space betweenthe roof or fioor supports at the level desired for the lower surface ofthe finished concrete structure. The next step is to lay reinforcingrods or netting on top of this centering and to thoroughly embed them inthe layer of concrete which is thereupon applied on theupper surface ofthe centering. When the concrete has set the centering is, of course,torn down. In place of wooden platforms, metallic forms have also beenused where practicable. The cost of putting up and taking down thiscentering is very large, and has led to the use of wire netting ormetallic sheets, either plain or corrugated, as a substitute for theremovable platforms, such netting or sheets being left permanently inplace. A further advance in the art has consisted in so forming metalliccentering, of the permanent character last referred to, that theconcrete bonds securely to it, and thereby transmits to it a portion ofthe stresses which it would otherwise have to carry alone. In thepresent development of this form of metallic centering, such centerings,although adapted thus to act as reinforcements for the concrete, havebeen of By my invention I propose to so form and employ a metallicsheets that they will act both as centering and reinforcement forconcrete structures, and will not require plastering on the under sidein order to insure the permanence of such reinforcement. This Iaccomplish by the provision of ribs on the upper side of the sheets,such ribs being adapted initially to stiffen the sheet so as to enableit to support the concrete when setting, as also subsequently to enterinto, and reinforce the solidified concrete as thoroughly andpermanently as wherereinforcing material, entirely independent of thecentering, is employed. In other words, such ribs, while connected withthe sheet to sustain the latter as described, are of such a form thatthey will be almost entirely enveloped by the concrete-and so beeffectually protected from corrosion. The sheets may hence be made ofminimum thickness and weight, and the strength and durability of thecompleted structure will be only very slightly impaired, indeed, by thetotal subsequent destruction of the same.

In-the preferred form of my invention 1 make the combined centering andreinforcement out of a, continuous sheet A of metal, which is crimped atsuitable intervals to form a series of upwardly extending spacedcorrugations a. These corrugations are effectually closed atthe pointwhere they leave the sheet proper and for some distance thereaboveforming a web and their upper portions are made laterally divergent soas to produce in effect a reinforcing member a that is fully theequivalent of a bar or rod of the type ordinarily used as out and outreinforcement in connection with the removable platform type ofcentering. The resultant T cross-section assumed by the closedcorrugations will ordinarily provide the largest measure of stiffeningfor the sheet, While, at the same time, affording an efficient andeconomical bonding member. Where desired, however, by omitting one armof the T, a corrugation of inverted L section is produced that may, for'some purposes, prove equally efiicacious and with a still greatereconomy in the matter of material. In fact,

almost any form of corrugation will answer the purpose so long as thecontiguous, or inturned faces of the web portion are brought into suchintimate contact as to prevent the circulation of air through thecorrugation,

and so long as the form of the corrugation is such as to give it agreater cross-section for the same height than it would have if itconsisttd of a fold with both sides straight and perdendicnlar at allpoints to the sheet proper. I should state further that Icontemplatcalso making the corrugations independently of the sheet and thenwelding, riveting or otherwise securing them to the face of the latteras ribs.

In Fig. 4 is illustrated yet another form which, in practice, is mostconveniently made by bending up and flaring in the manner shown thecontiguous edges (1 of adjacent sheets, and then riveting such upturnededges together. For present purposes, however, this struc' ture may beregarded as a specific form of the corrngi tion first considered, beingproduced therelorni by simply slitting such corrugations lengthwise andspreading their upper portions apart.

In the utilization of my improved combined centeringand reinforcement inactual construction, the sheets are laid upon the beams B or equivalentsupports pro-' vided as a foundation for the structure, so as to disposethe corrugations or strengthening ribs transversely of such beams. Wherethe structure is to be made flat on the under side, the sheets arepreferably placed directly upon the upper surfaces of the beams, andextend straight across from one to the other as shown in Fig. 1. Inerecting arched structures, the sheets are still disposed to bring thecorrugations transversely with respect to the beams, the ends ofthesheets resting on the lower horizontal flanges of the beams, Fig. 2.Whatever the type of the structure in which my invention is thusemployed, it will be seen that the sheet can be made very light since itis strengthened to sustain the load of the concrete before the lattersets by the same ribs or corrugations that, after such setting, serve toreinforce the concrete almost entirelyindependently of the sheet. Hence,should the exposed sheet metal on the under side he entirelyeaten away,due to corrosion, the con-' crete will still be properly reinforced 'bythe T rib portions which are inclosed and protected against rusting.Plastering and painting the underside may both be omitted, where notdesired for ornamental reasons, without endangering in the slightest thepermanence of the structure.

I am aware that it has heretofore been sought to strengthen sheet metalcenterings designed to be permanently placedin the structure bycorrugating the same, but I am not aware that such corrugations haveever been made of such form and construction as to adapt them, not onlyinitially to assist the sheet in sustaining its load of wet cementiilling,but also subsequently to enter into the concrete structure as aneffective and permanent reinforcement, without thenecessity ofplastering or otherwise protecting the under side of the sheet.

The outer portion of the corrugation, it is to be understood, taking theplace, as it does, of reinforcing elements that have heretofore beenwholly embedded in the concrete, must be effectually preserved from thedeteriorating influences of air and moisture, as also from that stillmore destructive agency, fire. I have found that by closing the lowerweb portion of the corrugation in the manner above described that anycirculation of air through the corrugation is effectually prevented,this even Where a dead air space is includedin the outer portion of thecorrugation; and by making such web of a suflicient height this outerportion, or reinforcing element proper, is secured wholly beyond theravages of fire. The permanence of the structure is thus insured notonly against the more subtle inroads of corrosion, which in time willdestroy the sheet intermediate between the corrugationspunless protectedby plastering, but also against the other more destructive agenciesnoted. This portion of the corrugation constituting the reinforcingelement in the completed structure further serves while the concrete issetting to resist lateral bending or in other words buckling of thecorrugation. It is to this end that the particular form of cross sectionshown has been adopted thereby providing in effect an I beam, the lowerflange of which is formed by the sheet intermediate of the successivecorrugations.

' Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards theconstruction herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any one ofthe following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.v

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a combined centering andreinforcement for structures of concrete, comprising a metallic sheetcrimped to form a series of integral spaced corrugations, suchcorrugations having a cross section of substantially T-shape and thecontiguous faces thereof being brought into intimate contact so as toprevent the circulation of air through the corrugation.

2. in structures of the class described, the combination with supportingbeams or walls; of a cement filling and a combined centering andreinforcement for such filling comprisinga metallic sheet crirnpcd toform a series of integral spaced corrugations on its upper facetransversely disposed with respect to said supporting walls, eachcorrugation having a lower web portion the contiguous faces of which arebrought into intimate contact so as to prevent the circulation of airthrough the corrugation and an outer transversely expanded portion of acrosssectlon adapted to resist lateral bending of the corrugation andthus to assist the sheet in sustaining said cement filling while wet,such outer portion being adapted to enter into the completed structureas a reinforcing member independently or any connection with said sheetwhen slid cement filling has set.

2.). in structures of the class describcd,'tlie combination withsupporting beams or walls; of a combined centering and reinforcementcomprising a metallic, sheet crimped to form a series of integral spacedcorrugations on its' upper face transversely disposed with respect tosaid supporting walls, each corrugation having a lower web portion and acontinuous outer portion bent away from a plane which is perpendicularto the surface of said sheet at the line of junction of said corrugationtherewith, the contiguous faces of such web portion being brought intointimate contact so as to prevent the circulation of air through thecorrugation; and a cement filling applied to such face of said sheet andembedding said corrugations.

i. in structures of the class described, the combination with supportingbeams or walls; of a combined centering and reinforcement comprising ametallic sheet crimped to form n serit s of integral spaced corrugationson its upper face transversely disposed with respect to said support mgwalls, each corrugation having a lower web portion and a continuousupper laterally divergent portion, the contiguous faces of such webportion being brought into 5. In concrete structures of the classdescribed, the

combination with supporting beams or walls of a combined centering andreinforcement comprising a metallic sheet criniped to form a series ofintegral spaced corrugations, said corrugations being closed and havinga cross-section of substantially T-shapc, said corrugations beingfurther 10 disposed transversely of said supporting wallsand adapted toserve as reinforcing members in the completed structure independently ofsaid sheet; and a cement filling applied to such face of said sheet andembedding said corrugations.

Signed by me, this 13th day of February, 1907.

HERBERT I COBB.

Attested by I). S. Dnvncs, .lNo. F. OBERLIN.

